General Dentistry (19)

Plaque buildup can cause serious dental problems if it goes unaddressed. While most people understand what plaque is, they do not always know how to take care of it. The dental experts at Rosa Dental would like to provide an overview on what plaque is and how to take care of it. Below you will find helpful information on what causes plaque and some ways to address it.

We want to help all patients avoid gum disease because this is the main cause of tooth loss in adults. People with gum disease are also more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses. However, if you establish the habit of good dental home care and regular checking and cleaning dental appointments, you can avoid this serious condition.

Treatment depends on the type and severity of the disease. If the disease progresses as the pocket between the tooth and gums gets filled with tartar, bacteria, or plaque, it causes irritation to the surrounding tissue. When these remain, they cause gum damage which eventually affects the bone that supports the teeth.

Advanced disease means a periodontal cleanup is needed; this is called a scaling and planing (deep cleaning). While the gum is numbed, scaling is the removal of the irritants above and below the gum line. The planing is smoothing the root surface rough spots. This procedure helps pockets to shrink and gum tissue to heal. To control the infection and the healing, medications, rinses, and electric toothbrushes may be needed.

We here at Rosa Dental understand that not all dental procedures are enjoyable to experience, but sometimes they just have to be done. We go out of our way to make these procedure as professional and painless as possible. This is why we have in business so long in the Sacramento area.

A tooth that is severely damaged or decayed may need to be removed, using an anesthetic to dull the pain. The anesthetic stops pain in the whole body and will make you sleep through the procedure. After removal surgery, you may need stitches. Then you can have the extracted tooth replaced with an implant, a denture, or a bridge.

We here at Rosa Dental, located in midtown Sacramento, live by the philosophy that prevention is an important part of great dental care that is often overlooked. We do take the time to educate our patients on how to stop a problem before it happens.

Because most adults have experienced tooth decay, we recommend twice a year dental appointments for a dental check and cleaning. Patients are taught how to brush and floss correctly so they can be consistent in their home care to prevent the plaque and bacteria that cause decay.

Poor oral hygiene, including not brushing or flossing regularly, usually leads to bad breath can also be a sign of early-stage gum disease, so it is vital that people have regular cleanings and be committed to good home dental care.

Periodontal (Gum) Disease: We want to help all patients avoid gum disease because this is the main cause of tooth loss in adults. People with gum disease are also more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses. However, if you establish the habit of good dental home care and regular checking and cleaning dental appointments, you can avoid this serious condition.

Treatment depends on the type and severity of the disease. If the disease progresses as the pocket between the tooth and gums gets filled with tartar, bacteria, or plaque, it causes irritation to the surrounding tissue. When these remain, they cause gum damage which eventually affects the bone that supports the teeth.

Advanced disease means a periodontal cleanup is needed; this is called a scaling and planing (deep cleaning). While the gum is numbed, scaling is the removal of the irritants above and below the gum line. The planing is smoothing the root surface rough spots. This procedure helps pockets to shrink and gum tissue to heal. To control the infection and the healing, medications, rinses, and electric toothbrushes may be needed.

Oral Exam- New patients receive a comprehensive examination which includes a screening for oral cancer, gum and bone disease, blood pressure, and systemicdisorders. A routine oral exam is performed on established patients to determine any changes in dental and health status since the previous visit.

Your gum tissue is measured with a fine instrument ruler to calibrate in millimeters pocket depth between the tooth and connective gum tissue around the tooth. Pocket depths more than 4 millimeters are serious because the deeper the pocket, the greater the extent plaque bacteria collects, causing infection or gum disease.

X-Rays are taken as needed. Tooth scaling and root planning occur as needed. Routine cleanings also include a professional polishing (Prophy) that removes only the soft, sticky plaque above the gum line.

Rosa dental has been excited to see our child patients grow up and then bring their children into our office now. We love to help children in our practice and have been doing so for decades now.

Children should begin seeing a dentist by their first birthday, according to ADA recommendation. Bringing your child to your appointments helps them understand the importance of taking care of their teeth and helps them form a positive attitude about dental appointments. We also help children learn how to take care of their teeth and provide cavity-preventing treatments. If your child is into sports, we also offer mouthguards to protect them from mouth injuries while they play.

Many people don’t even know they have sleep apnea! This is a very serious condition and if you think you have the symptoms below, know that Midtown Sacramento’s Rosa Dental knows how to help you with this serious condition.

One symptom could be as simple as snoring! But the consequences of this condition requires quick treatment to avoid further problems.

This is a breathing condition that prevents oxygen intake. Symptoms may include snoring, morning headaches, exhaustion, high blood pressure, waking up gasping for air, and a clouded memory. Dr. Rosa offers a cost-effective, non-invasive solution for sleep apnea and snoring.

Why is it important to treat sleep apnea?

Loss of productivity at work and home - this can negatively affect income, relationships, self esteem, and health

Marital and relationship issues - loud snoring disrupts your sleep and others’ sleep in your household; this causes frustration, anger, and impatience in the best of relationships

Vehicular accidents - your risk of being in an accident is three times greater than the general population

Heart attack, stroke, or possibly death - an estimated 38,000 people in our country die each year from the effects of sleep apnea. Those who snore or have sleep apnea also have more incidents of elevated blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack

Impotence - many men with these health issues suffer from erectile dysfunction

Gum disease usually strikes later in life, but even so, we want to help patients of all ages protect their smiles from this common condition. Why? Because gum disease is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults. What's more, recent studies have shown that patients with gum disease are more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses. But with regular dental visits and a daily brushing and flossing routine, you can give your smile the protection it needs to stay healthy.

Damaged Enamel Causes Indecent Exposure

Incredibly hard enamel protects your teeth above the gum line so that you can bite and chew without pain or discomfort. Beneath the enamel, a more porous layer, dentin, extends to below the gum line. A soft interior portion called pulp contains vital nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. The pulp fills the root canals, and it is the source of life to the tooth.

Damage, such as receding gums or chips and cracks in enamel, or heavy-handed brushing, exposes the dentin and can create a condition known as dentin hypersensitivity. Through tiny pores in the dentin, called tubules, temperature fluctuations, air, and pressure can directly affect nerves. This type of sensitivity can cause sudden, acute, and unexpected oral pain. About 45 million Americans suffer from tooth sensitivity, and if you’re one of them, we can help.

In some cases, laser therapy may seal the tiny exposed tubules and solve the problem. Another therapy includes dental sealants or bonding agents, which create a barrier similar to natural enamel. Sometimes treating the symptoms is the best solution. We may suggest a soft-bristled toothbrush to protect your gums from further irritation, an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensitive automatic shut off, or special toothpaste formulated with potassium nitrate or strontium chloride to block or insulate nerves. A fluoride rinse or gel, or an oxalate compound applied to an exposed tooth root may reduce your tooth sensitivity. For a few weeks, as you wait for these measures to take effect, you'll need to monitor what you eat and drink to avoid extreme temperatures.

People seldom have a clear idea of the actual status of their dental health. Even with lights and mirrors, a patient can’t see what the dentist can – that is, until now.

We use intraoral cameras, so when you visit the dentist, you can sit comfortably back in the chair and get ready for the show. The dentist or hygienist will insert a pen-sized, camera-tipped wand into your mouth. Covered with a disposable plastic sheath for contamination prevention, the wand simply takes a video of the inside of your mouth and transmits the images via cable to a computing unit. The computing unit enlarges the full-color images and sends them to a TV screen that you can comfortably view from the dental chair. Aha! There it is – your mouth on the screen. The dentist can point out problem areas and explain his recommendations for treatment, so you’ll become an informed partner in your dental care instead of a mere bystander.

Seeing your dental problems may seem overwhelming at first, but consider the experience the first step toward a healthier, fresher smile. The camera may reveal the early stages of potentially serious problems, allowing you the opportunity to prevent small problems before they escalate. This is especially helpful with gum disease and conditions that cause damage without causing pain. The camera's honest survey can also show you how your regular home hygiene routine is paying off. The dental hygienist or dentist can recommend ways to improve your homecare based on their findings.

What We See Is What We Get

We've invested in a new way of looking into your mouth – a procedure that's fast, comfortable, and incredibly precise. Using digital radiography, we can clearly identify all external and internal anatomical structures and accurately diagnose your dental problems. Even more amazing, we can immediately translate that information into a large, clear, accurate image, projected onto a monitor that patient and doctor can study together in the operatory. You won’t even have to leave your chair. Digital radiography’s technology improves and simplifies the way we care for our patients’ teeth, resulting in better dental evaluations and treatment decisions. As the most important member of your dental team, you need to understand the condition of your mouth, as well as our recommendations for treatment. Digital radiographs help us help you.

Reduced Radiation, Radical Results

Traditionally, dentists used X-rays to see what the naked eye could not; X-rays were developed in a darkroom with hazardous chemicals, and then viewed on a special light board. The developed X-rays had to be stored, which required large filing systems. By far, the worst part of traditional X-rays was the radiation exposure to patients. Digital radiography has completely transformed this process.

Now, when you come into the office for X-rays, a tiny sensor is placed in your mouth to emit a small amount of radiation – up to 90-percent less than traditional X-rays required. This creates a detailed image of your internal oral structures that is immediately viewable on a chairside monitor, carrying with it all the conveniences of other digitized images. We can rotate and magnify it, adjust it for contrast, and even color-code it for educational purposes. The digital images store easily and efficiently in our computer files, safe and sound. For insurance purposes, referrals, or patient education, digital X-rays can be easily, inexpensively, and accurately reproduced indefinitely.

Digital X-rays offer unparalleled benefits over traditional radiographs: they’re convenient, safe for the environment, provide a great opportunity for patient education, can be transferred and copied accurately, and best of all, they’re safer for our patients.